Headlines of July 25, 2014 “Noesi’s arm, Eaton’s bat lead Sox over Twins” … Patrick Donnelly, Whitesox.com “White Sox send Putnam to DL, recall Rienzo” … Patrick Donnelly, Whitesox.com “Few could damage a pitch like 'Big Hurt'” … Scott Merkin, Whitesox.com “Danks focuses in on Twins as series continues” … Alec Shirkey, Whitesox.com “Hector Noesi strong in 5-2 victory over Twins” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Another for Sox : Putnam to the DL” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Hall of Fame highlights for White Sox fans” … Chris Hine, Chicago Tribune “Jose Abreu has yet to hit rookie wall” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “Noesi, Eaton lead White Sox past Twins 5-2” … Associated Press “ lauds Frank Thomas for being ‘dialed in with his work’” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “35 special things about Frank Thomas” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “'Hawk' to celebrate La Russa at HOF” … Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com “Thomas turned doubts into Cooperstown” … Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com “Reinsdorf: Caray had La Russa all wrong” … Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com “White Sox offense provides Noesi enough support in win over Twins” … Nate Gotlieb, CSNChicago.com “Hector Noesi starting to find consistency with White Sox” … Nate Gotlieb, CSNChicago.com “White Sox notes: Putnam to DL, Garcia takes batting practice” … Nate Gotlieb, CSNChicago.com “The eyes have it: Thomas’ greatness built on patience” … Joe Posnanski, CSNChicago.com

Noesi’s arm, Eaton’s bat lead Sox over Twins

By Patrick Donnelly / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- With a shorthanded bullpen and an offense that was scuffling a bit, the White Sox got exactly what they needed from Hector Noesi on Thursday night.

Noesi pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning andAdam Eaton had three hits and two RBIs as the White Sox defeated the Twins, 5-2, at Target Field.

In his longest outing with the White Sox, Noesi was one pitch away from eight scoreless innings, but Danny Santana hit a two-out, two- homer that knocked Noesi out of the game. Still, Noesi was in command throughout the night and won consecutive starts for the first time since early June.

The White Sox put closer Zach Putnam on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, so getting a big start from Noesi kept pressure off the bullpen. "You feel a little shorthanded with Putnam going on the DL and things get a little mixed up in there," manager said. "You're looking for some length, but [this] was even better than just the length -- [Noesi] was sharp all night."

Noesi came out strong and didn't let up. The first 11 Twins went down in order before Trevor Plouffelooped a two-out fly ball that glanced off a charging 's glove in short left-center for Minnesota's first baserunner. The Twins didn't get another hit until the eighth inning.

"He had late movement," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He had a good and a and a cutter. He was able to throw that first-pitch consistently and get ahead in the count. He pretty much kept us off balance all night long."

Noesi said when he's on, it usually stems from his ability to locate his , and Thursday was no different.

"When you have command of your fastball, every pitch you can mix in and they're going to swing and miss," Noesi said. "But everything was working today."

Meanwhile, the Chicago offense took a little pressure off Noesi with some early runs. Twins starterPhil Hughes was knocked out of the game in the fourth when Adam Dunn's comebacker struck Hughes in the right shin.

The White Sox immediately took advantage, plating three runs off reliever Samuel Deduno to stretch their lead to 4-0. After scoring just five runs in a three-game series with Kansas City, that rally was a welcome sign.

"To be able to get a lead and let our get ahead of guys and not worry about only giving up one run, it was nice," Eaton said. "Hopefully we'll be able to continue that."

Eaton had the biggest at-bat of the night in that rally. With two outs and the bases loaded, he fell behind Deduno 0-2, including a feeble swing at a one-strike curveball that bounced at his feet. But Eaton hung with a curve on the next pitch and grounded it up the middle for a two-run single.

"I really just watched the pitch that I saw in the dirt and kind of just said, 'Let's just see it, use your hands, put it in play,'" Eaton said. "Bases are loaded and something's going to happen. We have to put it in play.

"When he threw it to me again, I saw it a little bit better and just tried to use my hands, tried not to do too much, and I happened to 15-hop it through the infield."

Jose Abreu did not homer for his seventh straight game -- one shy of his longest streak of the season -- but he did extend his current hitting streak to 14 games with a booming double high off the right-field wall in the fifth.

Gordon Beckham, who's been mired in a lengthy slump, hit a couple balls hard and finally got one to drop. In his first at-bat, he scalded a liner to dead center but hit it right at Santana, who hauled it in for an out. But in the sixth, Beckham drove a pitch over Sam Fuld's head to the wall in left for a double. That hit snapped an 0-for-13 skid for Beckham.

But the story of the night was Noesi, a reclamation project on his third team of the season. Since joining the White Sox rotation in late April, the White Sox are 8-8 in his starts, and Noesi is 5-6 with a 4.43 ERA.

"The strides he's made are impressive from when we got him to what he's doing now, where he's at," Ventura said. "To be able to go out and give you this, it's definitely steps in the right direction."

White Sox send Putnam to DL, recall Rienzo

By Patrick Donnelly / Special to MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- The White Sox kicked off a seven-day road trip against two Central foes in a less-than-optimal way Thursday, placing reliever Zach Putnam on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

Reliever Andre Rienzo was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to fill Putnam's spot on the roster, but not his role at the back end of the bullpen. Manager Robin Ventura said right-hander Jake Petricka is expected to get the first crack at any save opportunities that arise while Putnam is on the shelf.

Putnam was tagged with the loss against Kansas City on Wednesday when he entered a 1-1 game in the ninth inning and gave up an unearned run. Before that outing, he'd saved back-to-back wins over the Astros last Friday and Saturday. But Ventura didn't attribute Wednesday's loss to Putnam's injury.

"He'd been doing great," Ventura said. "Yesterday was just one of those days when they outlast you. I thought both [ Jose Quintana and the Royals' James Shields) were great, and Putnam, even in the last inning, he had a chance to get out of it without giving up a run. But you've got to figure out a way and move on."

Ventura categorized the injury as a minor one and indicated that he thought Putnam might not need the whole 15 days to recover. But in the best interests of a young pitcher, not to mention the rest of the bullpen, a trip to the DL was deemed the best option.

"It would've been really thin tonight to go out there and you're staying away from guys," Ventura said. "You're trying to get him healthy and make sure when they go back out there, they're 100 percent or as close to 100 percent as they can be."

Rienzo made 11 starts for the White Sox earlier this year, winning his first four decisions before dropping five straight starts between May 25 and June 21. After two bullpen outings, he was optioned to Charlotte on July 12 and went 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two appearances -- one start - for the Knights. Rienzo joined the team in Minneapolis on Thursday and will be available to pitch if necessary.

Beckham trying to work way out of slump MINNESOTA -- Gordon Beckham is in a slump at the plate, but manager Robin Ventura said he has no definite plans to give his scuffling second baseman a day off.

"In the end, the only way to get out of it is to be in there and play," Ventura said. "You've got to work your way out of it. You've got to be tougher than this. It's a tough thing to go through, but you've got to be just as tough, and he's doing that. So you just continue to fight the fight."

Beckham has put together some pretty dismal numbers of late. Entering Wednesday, he was 0-for-11 in his last three games, 1-for-22 in his last six games, and 4-for-59 in his last 15 games. But Ventura pointed to a second-inning at-bat in Wednesday's loss to Kansas City that just as easily could have turned Beckham's fortunes around.

"Even yesterday, bases loaded and he hits one hard, just at somebody," Ventura said of Beckham's grounder to third baseman Mike Moustakas that ended the inning. "If it's directed somewhere else, everything looks great and he knocked in a run with the bases loaded. He's putting it on the barrel, it's just not the perfect part of the barrel."

Worth noting

• The White Sox travel party was something of a skeleton crew heading into Minneapolis. Not only are pitching Don Cooper (vertigo) and bench coach Mark Parent (family reasons) expected to miss the entire series, but longtime play-by-play man Ken "Hawk" Harrelson is in Cooperstown, N.Y., this weekend as part of the White Sox contingent honoring former Sox slugger Frank Thomas and manager as they enter the Hall of Fame on Sunday.

When asked if Cooper was feeling any better on Thursday, Ventura said, "He wasn't yesterday. I haven't talked to him today. It's tough. I know he wants to be here and do what he does, but he's not able to get up. I don't know -- it doesn't look like he's getting any better."

Few could damage a pitch like 'Big Hurt'

White Sox icon's startling career totals justify first-ballot induction to Hall of Fame

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- The nickname "Big Hurt" just seemed to fit alongside Frank Thomas' massive frame, right from the start of his 19-year career with the White Sox, A's and Blue Jays.

At least that's what colorful White Sox play-by-play television announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson believed when he watched the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Thomas repeatedly introduce himself to with authority.

"He would just go on a streak there for a while, and every time he swung the bat, I'd say, 'Man, he hurt it. He hurt it,'" Harrelson said. "All of a sudden, I'm up there one day, and he was running around first base and had hit one out there deep -- real deep -- and it just blurted out. "I'm watching him go around first base, and the 'Big Hurt.' That's how it came about, and it was a good one. And he deserved it, because he was the Big Hurt, no question about it."

That moniker became as directly associated with Thomas as his 521 career homers, 1,704 RBIs, 1,494 runs scored, 1,667 walks, .301 career average, .419 on-base percentage and .555 slugging percentage. Actually, those incredible statistics simply back up Harrelson's rationale.

But the man who will always be remembered as the greatest hitter in White Sox history now holds the distinction of being the 28th player with White Sox ties to be elected to the Hall of Fame. According to the Hall of Fame, Thomas is the 14th member for whom the White Sox were his primary team.

Thomas received 83.7 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, well above the 75 percent needed for election, garnering 478 votes of the 571 cast. As part of the spectacular 2014 Hall class to be inducted this weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., Thomas -- the first Hall of Famer to start more games as a designated hitter (1,310) than in the field (968 at first base) -- joins pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, along with retired managers Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre, who were selected by the Expansion Era Committee in December. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will air on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET, live on MLB Network and simulcast on MLB.com and the At Bat app.

"Just to get to the Hall of Fame means a lot," Thomas said. "Going in the first time, it's overwhelming; it really is. So I had an impact, and I'm proud of that impact and as a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

There was more than a little bit of trepidation hovering around Thomas leading up to the Hall of Fame announcement in January. Would he be penalized for finishing his career as a DH? Would the injuries that limited his seasons in 2001, '04 and '05 push him back to election in his second year on the ballot? Thomas was nervous enough that he rarely spoke about the Hall of Fame process until the voting results were known.

Ultimately, Thomas' body of work was too strong to overlook. He won American League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1993 and '94; Silver Slugger honors in '91, '93, '94 and 2000; and he took home the '97 batting title with a .347 average. Thomas topped the .300 mark in 10 seasons and hit at least .330 four times. Each season from 1991-97, he produced a .300 average and at least 20 homers, 100 walks, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, a .400 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage.

"His numbers -- besides the big numbers -- are really just insanely good," said White Sox captain Paul Konerko. "He was one of those guys that, you know, he had some injury problems.

"You didn't know if he was going to get to 500 home runs because you didn't know how serious they were. But the rest of his résumé, it could get him in without it. You felt pretty sure that he was going to be a Hall of Famer, even if he wound up having to stop playing at 400-something home runs. The rest of his numbers were so out of this world that he was going to probably get in anyway."

Konerko will be with the White Sox in Minneapolis when Thomas gives his Hall of Fame speech on Sunday afternoon. But White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Harrelson will be two of the approximately 25 members of the White Sox organization making the trip for both Thomas and La Russa, their manager from 1979-86.

They will recall the White Sox top pick in the 1989 First-Year Player Draft, No. 7 overall, who made the wise call to choose baseball over football while at Auburn University. They will remember a slugger with one of the sharpest batting eyes in the history of the game. They will remember remarkable seasons such as 2000, in which Thomas knocked out 43 homers and 44 doubles, drove in 143 runs and hit .328 for a division champion. They will remember a player who treated teammates well, whether they were rookies or seasoned veterans.

In the end, Big Hurt really was so good.

"I remember the first month he was up here, he didn't hit a , and so we were wondering, 'Does this guy really have power?'" Reinsdorf said. "But after a couple of years, he started putting up numbers like [Lou] Gehrig and [Jimmie] Foxx and [Mel] Ott and [Babe] Ruth.

"If he stayed healthy, you knew he'd get into the Hall of Fame. I just know watching Frank, I thought he was the greatest right-handed hitter I've ever seen. Now, I think he's one of the three greatest because I think [Migue] Cabrera and [Albert] Pujols are probably in that category. Still, that's pretty special."

Danks focuses in on Twins as series continues

By Alec Shirkey / MLB.com

As the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline looms and John Danks continues to be discussed as the subject of trade rumors, the veteran southpaw is less worried about a potential deal that would send him somewhere else than he is his next start, which comes against the Twins at Target Field on Friday night.

"Yeah, nothing changes. It is what it is," Danks said of the rumors on Tuesday. "It's part of it. Something happens, we'll deal with it then."

Danks will also likely focus on putting his last start behind him.

The 29-year-old was again victimized by the Astros last Sunday, surrendering seven runs on 12 hits, including a pair of homers, over just 4 1/3 innings. The meltdown came after he had turned in three quality starts over his last four outings, posting a 2.73 ERA over that span.

"I dug us a hole," said Danks, who only threw 78 pitches in the loss. "These guys fought hard to get out of it, but it [stinks] to set a tone like that. For whatever reason, Houston has beat me up this year. It stinks to go out there with a chance to sweep and not pitch well."

The Twins will counter with right-hander Kevin Correia, who similarly comes off an unremarkable outing that saw him relinquish four runs over four innings against the surging Rays.

"They were more patient on certain pitches I was throwing that I thought they were gonna be more aggressive on," said Correia, who issued three walks in the game. "It kinda got me behind on the count. I think their approach just kind of threw me a little bit today."

His previous three starts were all quality affairs, however, and he'll look to get back on track against a White Sox team that's tagged him for five runs (three earned) over 12 innings this season. Twins: Morales gets sent west Minnesota turned a late free-agent signing into a prospect on Thursday as the club traded first baseman Kendrys Morales to the Mariners in exchange for right-hander Stephen Pryor.

Morales signed a one-year deal with the Twins in early June and hit .234/.259/.325 with 11 doubles over 39 games before returning to Seattle, where he hit .277 with 23 homers last season.

"I think he liked it here, but we've put ourselves in a position where this is going to happen," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll put him in the middle of a pennant race over there, which will be fun. And we'll get a big kid back here [Pryor] who can throw the baseball -- and one we've seen."

Pryor, a former fifth-round Draft pick of the Mariners, has posted a career 2.81 ERA as a reliever over the last three seasons.

White Sox: Putnam lands on DL A shaky White Sox bullpen lost one of its better arms on Thursday when it was announced that reliever Zach Putnam was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to inflammation in his right shoulder. The club recalled Andre Rienzo from Triple-A Charlotte to assume Putnam's vacated spot in the bullpen.

Manager Robin Ventura said that right-hander Jake Petricka, who recorded the save in Thursday's win over the Twins, will see the bulk of the team's save opportunities in the immediate future. He also added that Putnam may not need all of the prescribed 15 days to return to health.

"You're trying to get him healthy and make sure when they go back out there, they're 100 percent or as close to 100 percent as they can be," Ventura said.

Putnam has three saves this season and has a 2.35 ERA through 33 appearances.

Worth noting • The White Sox rotation has now turned in 12 quality starts over the last 18 games after Hector Noesi kept the trend going on Thursday night, tossing 7 2/3 innings of two-run baseball.

• Though the Twins were hopeful that right-hander would be able to rejoin the rotation on Saturday, he is no longer expected to pitch in that game as he continues to deal with back stiffness. Triple-A Rochester lefty Logan Darnell (5-5, 3.43 ERA for Rochester) is a potential option to fill in for Gibson.

Hector Noesi strong in 5-2 victory over Twins

White Sox starter has longest outing of season and gives up only 3 hits over 7 2/3 innings to take advantage of early lead

By Colleen Kane, Tribune reporter 11:26 PM CDT, July 24, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox pitcher Hector Noesi said he has tried to approach his starts recently "with the attitude that I'm going to get here and do my job."

He did his job as well as he has all season Thursday night at Target Field.

The 27-year-old right-hander had a one-hit shutout heading into the eighth inning and ended up pitching a season-high 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk in a 5-2 victory over the Twins.

"Everything was working today," Noesi said.

The stellar outing from a pitcher the Sox claimed off waivers in April with a 14.21 ERA was needed as the Sox bullpen was depleted because Zach Putnam was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday afternoon.

What the Sox need from Noesi (5-7) now is outings like Thursday's on a more consistent basis. It was his eighth quality start in 16 outings in the Sox rotation and brought his ERA down to 4.99.

"Seeing the strides he has made is impressive," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It's definitely steps in the right direction. … I wouldn't say surprising, but where you get him and where he's at now, you don't envision that."

The only Twins hit through the first seven innings came from third baseman Trevor Plouffe in the fourth. He knocked a shot to short left field that fell in front of a scrambling Alejandro De Aza, with Adam Eaton and Alexei Ramirez also nearby. Noesi gave up a single to Chris Parmelee and then a two-run home run to Danny Santana in the eighth inning before he was pulled with a 5-2 lead.

"I'm not glad they got another hit," Eaton said. "But it would be something else if (the dropped ball) was the only hit of the game and he went a complete game. It will be better for sure next time."

After the Sox scored five runs over their entire three-game series against the Royals, they scored five in the first six innings against the Twins to help make Noesi more comfortable.

Eaton doubled and scored on Ramirez's single off Twins starter Phil Hughes in the third.

Hughes was knocked out of the game in the fourth when Sox designated-hitter Adam Dunn singled off Hughes' right leg. Samuel Deduno entered in relief as Hughes walked gingerly to the dugout with a shin contusion after allowing four hits and striking out four.

Conor Gillaspie and De Aza each singled off Deduno to load the bases and Tyler Flowers walked to send in one run. Eaton then had a two-run single.

Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham doubled in the sixth and scored on Deduno's throwing error while trying to advance to third on a grounder.

"We haven't had a game like this in a while, to come out quickly," Eaton said. "We didn't bury the team by any stretch of the imagination, but … to be able to get a lead and let our pitchers try to get ahead of guys and not worry about being up only one run, it was nice."

Sox reliever Jake Petricka, a Minnesota native, pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save. "To be able to come in and not create any situations for himself, and do it pretty easily, (was big)," Ventura said.

Another hit for Sox bullpen: Putnam to the DL

By Colleen Kane

Tribune reporter

8:04 PM CDT, July 24, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox reliever Zach Putnam had hoped that the soreness in his right shoulder would dissipate over the All-Star break, but when he found it “very uncomfortable” to pitch in an inning Wednesday against the Royals, the Sox decided he needed a longer break.

Putnam was moved to the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation before Thursday’s game against the Twins, another hit to a bullpen previously depleted by injuries to two of the team’s best relievers, Nate Jones and Matt Lindstrom. The Sox recalled right-hander Andre Rienzo from Triple-A Charlotte to fill Putnam’s place.

Putnam had been one of the better relievers for the Sox this season since he was called up from Charlotte on April 17. He is 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA, three saves and a team-leading 12 holds in 33 games and 38 1/3 innings this season.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t have to go this route but … we’ll see if it makes a difference,” Putnam said.

Sox manager Robin Ventura said he doesn’t think it will be a major issue for Putnam. Putnam said his only past shoulder issue was in college and guessed that the workload this season after missing much of last season with an elbow injury might have contributed to the soreness.

Ventura said he will turn to reliever Jake Petricka “more often than not” in closer situations. Putnam and Petricka, who is 0-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and four saves in five opportunities, recently had shared such duties.

Other recoveries: Lindstrom (left ankle) threw live batting practice to Avisail Garcia on Thursday, the first time either had faced a live hitter or pitcher since their injuries.

“Lindy looked pretty good, and Avi is looking pretty normal,” Ventura said. “You see how close he’s getting. He’s moving around, did some stuff in the outfield. Now it’s getting a little more aggressive as far as sliding and doing things like that to be baseball ready.”

Garcia hadn’t faced live pitching since he tore the labrum in his left shoulder in April, but Lindstrom said he was impressed when he threw a fastball inside that Garcia hit it the other way.

“I saw the ball like 100 mph,” Garcia said. “That was a little bit lucky. I just swung and found it. But I feel great.”

Garcia, who was injured while diving for a catch, also practiced feet-first slides to make catches on a sliding apparatus. “It’s more easy right there than in the game because of the grass,” Garcia said. “I have to learn because I always use my knee.”

Lindstrom, who suffered a tear in a tendon sheath in his left ankle in May, ran through drills to test his side-to-side foot movement and said he thinks he will be comfortable fielding when he returns to the mound. He said his next concern is making sure his arm will be able to endure back-to-back outings.

The pair next expects to run through a simulated game, possibly this weekend.

“Throwing and playing catch, there’s really no adrenaline that comes with that,” Lindstrom said. “Today was a good step of stepping up the intensity and seeing a live hitter in there. Avisail is not really a small hitter in the box, so it was good to see kind of an intimidating hitter in the box.”

Extra innings: Entering Thursday, Charlotte first baseman Andy Wilkins had hit nine home runs in his last seven games, including two Wednesday for seven RBIs. Wilkins, who leads the International League with 25 homers, also had three doubles and 22 RBIs over his last seven games. … Sox broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson is missing the Twins series to attend the Hall of Fame inductions this weekend. Tom Paciorek is filling in alongside Steve Stone.

Hall of Fame highlights for White Sox fans

By Chris Hine, Chicago Tribune reporter

6:51 PM CDT, July 24, 2014

Here are five must-see things for White Sox fans at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Old Comiskey pinwheel: Nothing will bring back the fondness for the old Comiskey Park quite like the oversized, 1970s-tastic electric pinwheel from the stadium's scoreboard. The only drawback? The Hall refuses to light up its nearly 400 light bulbs.

DeWayne Wise's glove: Tucked away in an exhibit devoted to the modern game, Wise's glove serves a reminder for one of the best individual plays in Sox history, when his acrobatic catch saved 's perfect game July 23, 2009.

1906 ball: You might miss this gem unless it's pointed out to you because the 108-year old artifact looks like it has seen more than its fair share of hard use. But it's the lone relic at the Hall from the only all-Chicago World Series that the Sox's Hitless Wonders won.

Osvaldo Salas photographs: Salas was a Cuban photographer who shot Latin and African-American ballplayers in the 1950s. Among his subjects were former Sox players Minnie Minoso, Luis Aloma, Hector Rodriguez and Willie Miranda, players who helped pave the way for countless young major league hopefuls who came later.

2005 World Series memorabilia: The Sox's most recent World Series title is represented will in the Hall. 's jersey is there, so is a World Series ring in a collection of nearly every World Series ring through the years. Ozzie Guillen's pullover resides in separate section devoted to Latin players.

Jose Abreu has yet to hit rookie wall

By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times

MINNEAPOLIS — The “dog days” of August have arrived in July for Jose Abreu, who played in his 88th game in the White Sox’ 5-2 victory against the on Thursday at Target Field.

Abreu never played more than 94 games in Cuba, so these last two months of his first season will be a test for the major leagues’ home-run leader. The left ankle that put him on the disabled list is holding up, but like everyone else about now, various aches and pains are setting in. Manager Robin Ventura gave Abreu a day off Tuesday because his back was barking at him a little.

“His body is a little tired but he’s still getting in there, still fighting and still pushing,’’ Sox director of conditioning Allen Thomas said Thursday. “Is the experience new? Yes, he’d normally be done at this time. But he’s really mentally strong. He’s still getting in the weight room twice a week.’’

Sure, Abreu is beat up a little, Thomas said, but wear and tear was expected.

“He’s at freshman status but his body looks fine, his weight is where we like it,’’ Thomas said.

Abreu weighed 278 when the Sox signed him to a six-year, $68 million contract in October. He’s down to 252, and the Sox want to see him at 235.

“That’s very doable for him because he’s going to be stronger,’’ Thomas said. “Not just with diet, but with more training and cardio. it will be better for his legs and ankle strength in the end.’’

The Sox are doing all they can to protect their prized investment, who extended his hitting streak to 14 with a double off the right-center field wall. Abreu has hit safely in 32 of his last 33 games.

“In spring training he proved he could hit and hit with power,’’ Paul Konerko said, “but I didn’t know he would do both right off the bat. I thought he would do one or the other. He’s been driving balls all year but now you see the hits coming out and the average creeping up.’’

Abreu has answered doubts about how he would handle cold weather and pitchers he hadn’t faced.

“Even relievers who make you feel uncomfortable that you’ve faced 20 times, he goes up there the first time and hits a line drive up the middle and you say, ‘All right, I guess he wasn’t that uncomfortable.’ So you start seeing those barriers getting broken down early. Really, him getting hurt is the only down moment of the year and that’s not on him. Everything else has been aces.’’ For seven innings, Sox starter Hector Noesi was aces in the first game of a four-game series in Minnesota and a road trip that continues in Detroit. Before Chris Parmelee singled sharply to left and Danny Santana homered in the eighth, the only hit by the Twins was Trevor Plouffe’s soft-fly single to left that probably should have been caught by Alejandro De Aza, who got a late jump and barely missed getting his glove on the ball as he charged in and to his right.

Noesi exited after the homer. He gave up three hits and one walk while striking out three over 7 2/3 innings.

Adam Eaton had three hits, including a double and two-run single for the Sox. Adam Dunn’s smash single off Trevor Hughes’ right shin KO’d the Twins starter in the fourth inning.

That’s the kind of blow it might take to keep Abreu out of a game. When he rested Tuesday, it wasn’t a day he asked for.

“He’s a gamer, he wants to play,’’ Thomas said. “A guy of that size, you wonder if his body can hold it but I wouldn’t say he has slowed down by any means.’’

Noesi, Eaton lead White Sox past Twins 5-2

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — An impressive start from Hector Noesi was just a couple of pitches away from being something really special.

Noesi allowed three hits over 7 2-3 innings, and Adam Eaton had three hits and two RBIs to lead the to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Noesi (5-7) gave up two runs, struck out three and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. Alexei Ramirez added two hits and an RBI for Chicago, and Jake Petricka went one inning to earn his fifth save in six chances.

“When you have command of your fastball, every pitch you can mix in, and they’re going to swing and miss,” Noesi said. “But everything was working today.”

Phil Hughes (10-7) gave up two runs and four hits and struck out four for the Twins. But he left the game with a bruised right shin in the fourth inning when he was hit by a chopper off the bat of Adam Dunn. Hughes is listed as day-to-day. Danny Santana hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Twins, who couldn’t touch Noesi for most of the game.

The White Sox claimed Noesi off waivers from Texas at the end of April and he has been up and down for most of the season. The Dominican right-hander had everything working against the Twins, who traded veteran Kendrys Morales to Seattle earlier Thursday in the first of what could be several salary dumps as the trade deadline approaches.

“The strides he’s made are impressive from when we got him to what he’s doing now where he’s at,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “To be able to go out and give you this it’s definitely steps in the right direction.”

Noesi didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, when Trevor Plouffe reached on a bloop single that plopped down between three White Sox. He allowed only two runners in the first seven innings, and by the time the Twins got to him in the eighth, it was too late.

“He kept us off balance all night long,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Hughes, in an ominous sign for a team that has struggled mightily to find quality starting pitching, limped off the field in the fourth inning after being hit. X-rays were negative, and Hughes is hopeful to make his next start.

The White Sox jumped on emergency reliever Samuel Deduno, who walked in a run and gave up a two- run single to Eaton to fall behind 4-0.

The Twins can’t afford to lose Hughes, who has been by far their best starter this season. He entered the game with a 10-6 record and 4.06 ERA, and his reliable performance through the first half of the season made his three-year, $24 million contract one of the few bright spots during another miserable season in Minnesota.

“Just thankful it wasn’t broken and just go from there,” Hughes said. “It’s sore right now and I’m sure it will be worse tomorrow. I’m just happy it should be all right in a few days.”

NOTES: Chicago’s Jose Abreu extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a double in the fifth. ... White Sox bench coach Mark Parent is not with the team for the series due to family reasons. ... With regular 3B coach Joe Vavra’s hip ailing, the Twins have been using 1B coach Scott Ullger at third and Paul Molitor at 1B. Molitor is leaving the team this weekend to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown so the Twins called up Sam Perlozzo to coach 1B for the rest of the weekend. Perlozzo is the team’s minor league instructor. ... The White Sox send LHP John Danks (8-6, 4.35) to the mound on Friday night against RHP Kevin Correia (5-12, 4.76).

Paul Konerko lauds Frank Thomas for being ‘dialed in with his work’

By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times

The remarkable hitting eye and plate discipline helped Frank Thomas hit for high average and on-base percentage.

The exceptional size and strength grew the power numbers.

The motivation to have bigger and better statistics than anyone else kept Thomas’ extraordinarily blended hitting machine ticking along through a 19-year career (16 with the White Sox) that produced a .301 average, .419 on-base percentage, 521 homers and 1,704 RBI.

Thomas was self-motivated, but if he needed a nudge now and then, teammates such as and Ozzie Guillen were always around to push the right buttons.

“Joey was really annoying to him,’’ Guillen said this week. “Joey would pick up the paper and say, ‘Juan [Gonzalez] two hits, home run, two RBIs last night.’ That would get him going. We’d make him very upset and he hated it but I know he was going to hit two homers that night.’’

Broadcaster Ken Harrelson, who nicknamed Thomas “The Big Hurt,” often heard it suggested that Thomas was selfish because of his obsession with his numbers.

“I said, ‘He’s not selfish. Guys do that. They have to find ways to motivate themselves.’ You know, 162 games, that’s tough. It’s really tough, and guys find ways to motivate themselves.’’

As Paul Konerko — who ranks second to Thomas in homers and RBI among all-time Sox — says, first basemen and designated hitters don’t have much more than numbers to be judged by.

Thomas’ detailed, methodical day-to-day approach to his craft was as impressive as anything to Konerko.

“Just his routines,’’ Konerko said, “and it led to the numbers, obviously.

“He was just really consistent and dialed in with his work. He knew when things went bad and wasn’t swinging the bat the way he wanted to, he had drills and just a whole formula on how to get himself [right], he was very aware at all times where he was at with his swing. Knew what to do when it was good and knew what to do when he didn’t feel good. He kind of just knew and learned how to get it back to where he wanted to and knew little tricks to do it. That all leads to the numbers and not going through long stretches of bad results.’’ Ask Guillen about his former teammate and he points to a good work environment that included guidance from hitting coach Walt Hriniak and professional co-workers such as Robin Ventura, Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, Lance Johnson and Ellis Burks, work habits and “his desire for competition.”

“Frank was better because of Ken Griffey Jr. and Juan Gonzalez, all those guys to compete against,’’ Guillen said. “He always wanted to be the best.’’

Count chairmain Jerry Reinsdorf, Harrelson, and Guillen among those who say he was.

“I respect Kirby Puckett, Robin Yount, Griffey,’’ Guillen said, “but Frank was the best hitter in my era.’’

“I remember the first month he was up here he didn’t hit a home run and so we were wondering ‘Does this guy really have power?’ ’’ Reinsdorf said. “But after a couple of years he started putting up numbers like Gehrig and Foxx and Ott and Ruth. You knew if he stayed healthy he’d get into the Hall of Fame.

“I thought he was the greatest right-handed hitter I’ve ever seen. Now I think he’s one of the three greatest because [Miguel] Cabrera and [Albert] Pujols are probably in that category. Still, that’s pretty special. I didn’t see Hornsby so I don’t know how good he was.’’

35 special things about Frank Thomas

By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald

Here are 35 thoughts, facts, moments and memories of No. 35, Frank Thomas:

1 The Big Hurt was drafted by the White Sox on the first round (No. 7 overall) in 1989 after playing college baseball at Auburn.

2 Thomas won two American League MVP trophies -- in 1993 and '94.

3 In his first full major-league season with the Sox (1991), Thomas finished third in MVP voting with a .318/.453/.553 hitting line to go with 32 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-leading 138 walks.

4 A year after exiting the White Sox in a messy split, Thomas finished fourth in MVP voting after batting .270 with 39 home runs and 114 RBI while playing for the .

In his first game back at U.S. Cellular with the A's, Thomas hit 2 solo homers off . 5 Thomas went to five straight All-Star Games (1993-97). In 1995, he won the Home Run Derby in Texas.

6 Over his career, Thomas was the AL leader in six offensive categories -- batting average, slugging percentage, extra-base hits, walks, on-base percentage and doubles.

7 From 1991-97, Thomas became the first player in baseball history to hit .300 or higher with at least 20 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 walks and 100 runs scored in seven straight seasons.

8 Along with Al Simmons, Ted Williams and , Thomas is the only player in major-league history to drive in 100 or more runs in each of his first eight full seasons.

9 In 2000, Thomas wasn't happy after finishing a close second to Jason Giambi in the AL MVP vote. Had he won, Thomas would have been the ninth player in history to win three MVP trophies.

10 Thomas, who played from 1990-2008, ranks 10th all time with 1,667 walks.

11 Thomas hit 11 grand slams, tying him for 41st place in baseball history.

12 After winning AL MVP honors in 1994, Thomas became the 12th player in history to win the award in consecutive seasons, and the first since the Yankees' Roger Maris in 1960-61.

13 Thomas played with No. 13, shortstop Ozzie Guillen, from 1990-97. He also played for Guillen, who returned as White Sox manager, in 2004-05.

"The best hitter to ever wear this uniform was Frank," Guillen said.

14 Thomas was voted AL player of the week 14 times.

15 In 1997, Thomas reached base safely in 15 consecutive plate appearances, one shy of Ted Williams' record. During the streak, which ran May 16-20, Thomas was 10-for-10 with 5 walks.

16 Thomas played 16 seasons with the White Sox, and he ranks fourth in franchise history behind Luke Appling, Paul Konerko and Nellie Fox with 1,959 games played.

17 Thomas hit 17 home runs at Fenway Park in Boston, his highest total as a visiting player.

18 With 521 career home runs, Thomas is tied with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 18th place on the all-time list. 19 Playing for Auburn in 1989, Thomas hit 19 home runs while batting .403 and winning Southeastern Conference MVP honors.

20 Thomas ranks 20th all time with a career .419 on-base percentage.

21 As a freshman at Auburn, Thomas hit 21 home runs, and his success on the baseball field prompted him to quit the Tigers' football team, where he played tight end.

22 In major-league history, Thomas ranks 22nd with 1,704 RBI and a .555 slugging percentage.

23 On June 23, 2002, Thomas launched a 495-foot home run off the Twins' Johan Santana. At the time, it was the longest home run ever hit at U.S. Cellular Field.

24 Thomas never liked facing Pedro Martinez. In 24 career at-bats vs. the right-handed starter, Thomas had 2 hits and struck out 11 times.

25 On June 25, 2003, Thomas hit his 400th career home run, off Tampa Bay's Jorge Sosa.

26 While he wasn't on the postseason roster in 2005 due to injury, Thomas was with the team Oct. 26 when the White Sox completed a four-game sweep over the to win the World Series.

27 Thomas was born on May 27, 1968, in Columbus, Georgia.

28 On Aug. 28, 1990, Thomas hit his first major-league home run, off the Twins' Gary Wayne.

29 Thomas' 1,028 career extra-base hits rank 29th all time.

30 Thomas hit 30 or more home runs in a season nine times.

31 Thomas hit 2 home runs in a game 31 times.

32 In his 19 major-league seasons, Thomas stole 32 bases in 55 attempts.

33 Thomas ranks 33rd in baseball history with 168 intentional walks.

34 In 2005, his final season with the Sox, Thomas played in only 34 games because of foot and ankle injuries.

35 The White Sox retired Thomas' uniform No. 35 at U.S. Cellular Field on Aug. 29, 2010. The following year, the Sox unveiled a bronze statue of Thomas on the left-field concourse. "You can never dream of anything like that," he said. "You can always dream, but it's only happened to a select few, and I'm honored to be one of those select few to be out on that concourse."

'Hawk' to celebrate La Russa at HOF

By Doug Padilla / ESPN Chicago

CHICAGO -- The only man to ever fire Tony La Russa as a manager will be in Cooperstown, N.Y., this weekend to celebrate La Russa's induction into the Hall of Fame.

Ken "Hawk" Harrelson is a White Sox broadcaster now, known for an oft-criticized excitable style. In 1985 and into the next year, though, he took a break from the booth to serve as White Sox general manager, where he may have made his most criticized move of all.

Harrelson made the decision to fire La Russa as manager after the team started the 1986 season 26-38. La Russa ended with a 522-510 record at the helm of the White Sox.

"It's funny, he managed what 33, 34 years in the big leagues and he only got fired one time, and you're talking to the [fool] that fired him," Harrelson said. "He might go down as certainly one of, but maybe the best, manager we've ever seen."

La Russa was immediately hired by the Oakland Athletics to be their manager, but Harrelson estimates that he didn't talk to La Russa for "six or seven years" as a result of the firing. The deep freeze ended, interestingly enough, after the A's topped the White Sox during a series in Chicago.

"It was a four-game series, I think, and they took three out of four from us, and he was doing just a magnificent job," Harrelson said. "After the game was over, I went downstairs and I walked into the visiting clubhouse and he had 15 or 20 people in there with him, but for some reason we made eye contact. When we did, I went [thumb's up] and I turned around and walked out.

"I get about 15, 20 feet down the hallway there and it's Tony and he says, 'Hawk, Hawk.' So he came up and we shook hands and he said, 'It's been too long.' I said, 'You're right, it has been too long.' Since that time, we've been close."

So while seeing Frank Thomas getting inducted into the Hall of Fame might be Harrelson's biggest reason for attending Sunday's ceremony, seeing La Russa get his honor will be rewarding as well.

Harrelson said he played in La Russa's charity golf tournament this year and the two will swap stories again this weekend, with Harrelson sure to get more grief for his decision to fire a future Hall of Fame manager.

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf already got in the first good-natured shot at Harrelson this week.

"It was the biggest regret [letting La Russa go]," Reinsdorf said. "Well, it was the combination, naming a general manager that shouldn't have been a general manager and then letting him fire Tony."

If there is one thing Harrelson is relieved about, it's that La Russa was able to go on and prove his managerial skills at Oakland and St. Louis.

"I didn't fire Tony because he was a bad manager," Harrelson said. "We had a difference of opinion. He wanted to go one way and I wanted to go another way. At that time, the club was going bad and the fans were really on him bad.

"I walked into his office and said, 'Tony, I've got to do one of two things.' He said, 'What's that?' I said, 'Either I have to fire you or I have to make you a hero.' He said, 'You can't make me a hero.' Well, obviously I did."

Thomas turned doubts into Cooperstown

By Doug Padilla / ESPN Chicago

CHICAGO -- The initial reactions to Frank Thomas were about what he couldn't do. That soon changed to the things he did which were unlike any other, and it eventually evolved into a Hall of Fame career.

Thomas will be inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. It will be a celebration of a groundbreaking career that saw him win two MVP awards and compile a .419 career on- base percentage that is third-best all-time among right-handed hitters.

But when Thomas first took the field in the minor leagues as a first-round draft pick (seventh overall) by the White Sox in 1989, some questioned whether he would even make it to the big leagues to show off his offensive prowess.

"I didn't know he was great right off the bat because the first time I saw him was in A-ball and I had doubts that he could play first base," chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "When I saw him play, it looked like he didn't know where first base was."

Thomas managed to figure out some subtle nuances around the bag, although defense never was his strong suit. He simply hit so well that he was able to overcome any defensive liabilities he had, and moving to the designated hitter spot only increased his overall productivity.

When he arrived in the major leagues in 1990, his unique approach at the plate was on full display.

"You're looking at it and you're thinking, at that time you didn't see big guys that get a base hit the other way and walk," former Thomas teammate and current White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He had the power, but you're just talking about the smaller part of the game, where back then it was just swing as hard as you can and see how far you're going to hit it. But he took his walks, he didn't like striking out, and that was a change at that time for somebody his size."

Interestingly, the walks and the base hits the other way came early, but the home runs did not.

"I remember the first month he was up here he didn't hit a home run, and so we were wondering, 'Does this guy really have power?'" Reinsdorf said. "But after a couple of years he started putting up numbers like (Lou) Gehrig and (Jimmie) Foxx and (Mel) Ott and (Babe) Ruth. You knew if he stayed healthy he'd get into the Hall of Fame."

The time has arrived for the Hall of Fame to open its door to Thomas, and clearly he is worthy of the honor.

Paul Konerko played with Thomas for seven seasons (1999-2005) and calls Thomas the best hitter he has ever seen.

"That year in 2000, up close, that's about as good as I've seen anybody just kind of dominate," Konerko said. "Even his outs, nothing looked bad. Maybe one at-bat out of every 15 it was a bad at-bat. It's pretty hard to do for six-month period."

Thomas batted .328 in 2000 with a 1.061 OPS, but finished second in the MVP voting to Jason Giambi, who later admitted that performance-enhancing substances were part of his early-career routine. Assuming Thomas would have added a third MVP award if Giambi hadn't cut corners only enhances his Hall of Fame credentials.

Thomas was in the Hall of Fame argument when he left the White Sox after the 2005 season, and he seemed to print his ticket to Cooperstown when he delivered a .926 OPS with 39 home runs and 114 RBIs with Oakland in 2006, finishing fourth in the MVP voting.

"I don't think anyone questioned whether he still had it, it was all injury; that gets people at the end of their career," Konerko said. "He had a couple of those, ankle or foot, where if he can get it healthy there was no question whether he would hit or not. That's different than playing healthy and not doing the job. We never really saw that from Frank.

"If he didn't hit well, it was related to injury. When he came back that year with Oakland, as long as he could swing the bat, the numbers would be there. It was that simple."

Thomas was simply so good with the bat that he got everybody to forget what he couldn't do with the glove.

"I just know watching Frank, I thought he was the greatest right-handed hitter I've ever seen," Reinsdorf said. "Now I think he's one of the three greatest because I think (Miguel) Cabrera and (Albert) Pujols are probably in that category. Still, that's pretty special. I didn't see (Rogers) Hornsby so I don't know how good he was."

Reinsdorf: Caray had La Russa all wrong

By Doug Padilla / ESPN Chicago

CHICAGO -- When Jerry Reinsdorf took ownership of the Chicago White Sox in 1981, Tony La Russa was already in place, like 25-foot ceilings on a new home, or the sunroof of a new car.

Well, those are the traits that eventually could be likened to La Russa. When Reinsdorf first took over the White Sox, he was under the impression that the manager of his new club was more like termite damage or a faulty transmission.

"When [La Russa] came to Chicago, I was a fan; I didn't own the team at the time," Reinsdorf said. "He came up sometime in the 1979 season and managed in 1980, and I bought the team in 1981.

"I remember at the time I bought the team, I thought 'Well, one of the first things I'm going to have to do is fire the manager,' because the broadcasters, [Harry] Caray and [Jimmy] Piersall, kept talking about how bad he was. And then I met him and realized how wrong they were."

Eventually Ken "Hawk" Harrelson was unable to realize the greatness as well during a brief turn as general manager, and he fired La Russa at the start of the 1986 season. It is the moment in Reinsdorf's ownership that he seems to regret the most.

Despite La Russa moving across the country to manage the Oakland Athletics, Reinsdorf stayed close with his former manager and the two have a unique bond to this day.

"Over the years we've really become like brothers," Reinsdorf said. "It's just a very, very special friendship. As great a manager as he is, he's a better human being. He's just a great person."

La Russa wasn't a very accomplished major league player, seeing time in 132 career games with the Kansas City/Oakland A's, the Braves and the . And as a manager he raised eyebrows with his use of the bullpen and a sporadic strategy of using the pitcher in the No. 8 spot in the lineup.

But he is recognized as changing the game, especially with how relievers are used.

That is at least part of the reason La Russa will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Former White Sox player Frank Thomas also will be inducted.

"Obviously having two people connected with the White Sox going in at one time is special, but it's really special for me to see Tony go in knowing how he suffered early in his career and the abuse he took and to see that he proved all the critics were wrong," Reinsdorf said. "I just wish Harry Caray were alive."

White Sox offense provides Noesi enough support in win over Twins

By Nate Gotlieb / CSN Chicago

Starting pitcher Hector Noesi posted arguably his best pitching performance of the season, and Chicago's offense generated 11 hits as the White Sox defeated the Twins 5-2 on Thursday at Target Field.

Center fielder Adam Eaton led the White Sox (49-54) with three hits, and Noesi (5-7) pitched a season- high 7.2 innings and allowed just two runs helping Chicago snap a two-game losing streak.

“With Hector, the way he threw tonight, it was great,” Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. “You feel a little shorthanded with [relief pitcher Zach] Putnam on the DL. Things get mixed up in there, and you’re looking for some length. It was better than just the length. He was sharp all night.” The White Sox’s offense had struggled in losses to the Royals in its previous two games, managing just two runs on 14 hits.

The White Sox hit early and often Thursday, however, and posted eight hits in the first five innings.

Eaton scored the first run of the game in the third inning. He doubled down the left-field line with two outs and scored on an Alexei Ramirez single. Eaton later added an RBI single with two outs in the fourth inning. With an 0-2 count, he slapped a Samuel Deduno curveball up the middle, after swinging and missing on a curveball on the previous pitch.

“[I] kind of just said, ‘let's just see it, use your hands, put it in play,’” Eaton said. “When he threw [the curveball] to me again, I saw it a little bit better.”

The hit capped a three-run inning for the White Sox. The inning started when Adam Dunn hit a sharp ground ball off Twins starter Phil Hughes. Hughes left the game with a right-shin contusion and was later listed as day-to-day. He gave up two earned runs in three innings and took the loss dropping to 10-7 on the season.

The White Sox took a 5-0 lead in the sixth on a run from second baseman Gordon Beckham. Beckham led off the inning with a double to left-center field and scored on a throwing error by Deduno.

Noesi allowed just one hit and one walk through seven innings. He gave up a two-run home run to Twins center fielder Danny Santana in the eighth, causing Ventura to replace him with Daniel Webb.

Jake Petricka pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the White Sox, earning his fifth save of the year. Ventura said Petricka, arguably the White Sox top relief pitcher this season, could see more ninth-inning action because of the injury to Putnam.

The win snapped Chicago’s five-game losing streak against the Twins (46-55), the last-place team in the AL Central.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu extended his hitting streak to 14 with a double in the fifth inning. The first baseman has hit safely in 32 of his past 33 games.

Hector Noesi starting to find consistency with White Sox

By Nate Gotlieb / CSN Chicago For at least one night, Hector Noesi showed that the White Sox have a pitcher other than Chris Sale who can dominate hitters.

Noesi won his second-consecutive decision Thursday going 7.2 innings and giving up just three hits, two runs and one walk while striking out three in a 5-2 win over the Twins at Target Field. Through seven innings, Noesi retired 21 of the 23 batters allowing just one hit and one walk.

With the team’s bullpen struggling with injuries, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said he appreciated the length Noesi gave the team Thursday. He noted that Noesi’s off-speed pitches were especially sharp, which helped him keep the Twins off-balanced.

“He had a good changeup to righties today, which normally he probably stays away from,” Ventura said. “From when we got him to what he’s doing now, to be able to go out and give you this, it’s definitely steps in the right direction. He’s had some games where he deserved better. Even tonight, one mistake, [but] they really haven’t hit anything hard off him all night.”

Noesi appeared pleased with his start and said that, “everything was working today.”

“When you have command with your fastball, every pitch, you can just mix it, and they’re going to swing and miss,” he said.

The 27-year-old was especially dominant early in the game. He retired the first 11 batters before a shallow single by the Twins’ Trevor Plouffe in fourth inning fell between several charging White Sox .

Noesi also benefited from an early lead Thursday thanks to five runs by the White Sox offense in the first six innings.

“To be able to get a lead and let our pitchers try to get ahead of guys and not worry about being up one run, it was nice,” center fielder Adam Eaton said. “Hopefully we can continue that.”

Eaton was involved in the attempt to catch Plouffe’s fourth-inning single but was called off at the last second by left fielder Alejandro De Aza. After the game, he joked that he was thankful the Twins got another hit so he wasn’t the one responsible for breaking up the no-hit bid.

“De Aza said he had a good read on it,” Eaton said. “From my stand point I wasn’t 100-percent confident.” Noesi has just an 8-22 career record with a 5.43 ERA in four Major-League seasons. He originally came up with the Yankees, who traded him to Seattle in 2012. The Rangers acquired him in early April before the White Sox acquired him off waivers later in the month.

Ventura said he’s seen improvement in Noesi’s off-speed pitches since the team acquired him.

“His fastball’s always been pretty lively,” Ventura said. “To be able to add a cutter to it and locate it and to have the feel for the change up in really any count...it’s become effective.”

White Sox notes: Putnam to DL, Garcia takes batting practice

By Nate Gotlieb / CSN Chicago

The White Sox placed relief pitcher Zach Putnam on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of right shoulder inflammation.

The 27-year-old Putnam is having his best season of his Major League career. He is 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA and has allowed just 10 earned runs in 38.1 innings.

Putnam missed more than half of last season due to injury and said he was hoping to stay off the disabled list this year. He said the shoulder has always been healthy except for a minor injury in college.

“It still is healthy — just kind of some inflammation issues there,” Putnam said. “I think after missing as much time as I missed last year and then having the kind of work load that I’ve had, your body just kind of reacts.”

Manager Robin Ventura said the injury seems minor and indicated that it could mean more work for relief pitcher Jake Petricka, who has a 2.10 ERA in 51.1 innings.

The team also recalled right-hander Andre Rienzo from Class-AAA Charlotte. The 26-year-old Rienzo went 4-5 in 61.1 innings with a 5.87 ERA with the White Sox earlier this season. He last pitched for the team July 11.

Eaton looking to continue hot streak

White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton is hitting .395 in his last 10 games and has raised his average from .265 to .281 during that stretch. Before Thursday's game, he appeared confident the team would be able to escape its recent hitting struggles after it scored just two runs in the past two games. “[We just need to] continue to compete one through nine,” he said. “When we’re able to do that, we’re a very tough team to be hitting wise.”

Garcia takes batting practice off Lindstrom

Injured right fielder Avisail Garcia took live batting practice off injured pitcher Matt Lindstrom Thursday and “is looking pretty normal,” Ventura said.

“You start watching him, you see how close he’s getting,” Ventura said. “He’s moving around, did some stuff in the outfield, now is getting a little more aggressive as far as sliding and doing things like that.”

Garcia hasn’t played since April 9 because of a shoulder injury. Lindstrom hasn’t pitched since May 19 because of an ankle injury.

The eyes have it: Thomas’ greatness built on patience

By Joe Posnanski / CSN Chicago

There are so many inconceivable skills necessary to hit Major League pitching, but if I had to pick one that most boggles the mind it would simply be this: recognizing, in an instant, whether a pitch is a ball or a strike. It is a skill that, when you break it down, seems impossible. A hitter has a little bit less than a half-second to fully react to a 90-mph fastball, closer to four-tenths of a second against a 100-mph fastball.

I can, just barely, comprehend a player having the bat speed necessary to hit the ball. I cannot understand at all that ability to recognize the ball will be a couple of inches outside the strike zone.

This was Frank Thomas’ Jedi talent. Everything else flowed from it. In his very first full season, he walked 138 times and posted a .453 on-base percentage – a higher on-base percentage than Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Stan Musial or Roberto Clemente ever achieved in a season. In his first eight seasons combined, Thomas posted a .452 on-base percentage. Here are the Top 5 for their first eight seasons.

1. Ted Williams, .488

2. Babe Ruth, .467

3. Frank Thomas, .452 4. Wade Boggs, .443

5. Lou Gehrig, .443

“The hardest thing to teach,” the old White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak said when talking about the absurdity of Frank Thomas, “is patience.” You could argue that it’s impossible to teach, because “patience” is some heady mix of instantly recognizing the pitch, communicating to the body to swing or not to swing and, perhaps most of all, understanding your own limitations as a hitter. The mind of most hitters screams confidence and tends to believe that it can hit ANY pitch. If you think about it, laying off bad pitches is actually something of an ego check.

When Thomas was in college at Auburn, he almost never got a strike. His old coach Hal Baird said that if Thomas had waited only for a strike, “He wouldn’t have had a bat all season.”

So, choosing from the mixture of bad pitches and very bad pitches that anyone was willing to throw him, Thomas figured out which balls were at least hittable. He hit .403 with 19 homers as a junior and was promptly taken seventh in the draft, one spot behind a high school hitting phenom named Paul Coleman, one spot ahead of a high school hitting phenom named Earl Cunningham. You sometimes have to wonder what the heck baseball scouts are looking at.*

*This is particularly true for Thomas, who was not even DRAFTED out of high school. The scouts would say that was because Thomas had already committed to play football at Auburn, but this is ridiculous because (1) Teams take flyers on football players all the time and (2) Thomas has said, point blank, he would have signed. Scouts just whiffed on Thomas probably because they did not appreciate just how remarkable his pitch recognition skills were.